Humans are Emotional First and Rational Second.
Thursday February 25, 2016

As you know I often just sit and let my feelings fall onto paper as a poem. Needless to say it's emotion that drives it. I often write poems to show people, especially with mental health challenges that they are not alone – as we so often feel SO alone.

I am touched by emotion,
In sight and in sound.
I get touched by emotion,
It is all around.

The young child smiling,
As their parent arrives.
The tail of the dog wagging,
With the car in the drive.

The teenagers nervous,
As they go to hold hands.
The insecure adult,
As they hug as they stand.

This world is so material,
We kinda lose touch.
Of what is within us,
We're so in a rush.

Life goes too fast,
As we grow up and die.
How often do we sit,
And let out a sigh?

IQ teaches us,
There's a right and a wrong.
Yet we go on seeking,
Some words in a song.

The only 'rights',
Are deep in our heart.
But we often put the,
Horse 'fore the cart.

Our children grow up,
With the same fears as us.
Who am I really,
And so life is thus.

We take the outside journey,
Into that material world.
And measure ourselves,
With hearts unfurled.

How do we start,
To go deep inside?
And find some compassion,
Not that external pride?

I sit here alone,
And now say to you,
Be careful my friend,
To your heart be true.

Comments

LillyPet Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 8:19am

Hi Les,
Your poem makes me feel inspired to try live how I want to while I can. Thanks Les, you're right we are not alone.
I feel grattitude for moments of happiness, the sun is streaming through my bedroom loft skylight and I feel happy. Sending that feeling out to you all this morning. Love and hugs LPxx

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:14pm

Debs Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 8:46am

Great timing Les - I've been reconnecting to my true self recently and feel excited and scared about the next chapter of my life. Like lovely LP says, I feel inspired by your poem and hopeful that by following my heart I will find my true path. Huge love to you dear Les, I hope you're doing well at the moment, it's always a pleasure to read your words my friend xxx

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:16pm

Hi Debs - thanks and fab that you feel excited - just be 'open' and not scared. Thanks for your wishes - welcomed right now. Lx

Sarah Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 8:50am

Hi Les
My first emotion was a feeling of compassion and gratitude. I felt that your poem was such a giving thing, to Moodscope , to us and that generosity sends a message of hope and sharing. I felt grateful to be reminded how much I have improved since first joining Moodscope. I now feel the same as above with added thoughts , that there are unselfish people in the world and how reading your blog has made such a difference to the start of my day. Thank you so much. Sarah ( yellow rose)

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:17pm

Hi Sarah - what a great and warm paragraph. So good that you have progressed after joining Moodscope....keep stepping up and sharing your lovely compassion.

Lex Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 8:53am

"To your heart be true."
That's wisdom, my friend. L€X

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:18pm

Hi Lex - Thanks

The Gardener Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 9:20am

This is for Mary, from yesterday. Yes, you can use the name - which came from an extraordinary sequence of events (surprise surprise, try to precis - you can use it if it fits). Our neighbour's main business was trading in priceless oriental carpets. He wanted to buy from Mongolia, but their currency was not 'strong'. But they had discovered an important vein of marble (to sell to Russia or Japan I presume) and wanted to 'swap' carpets for marble cutting machinery. So I accompanied said business man to Italy to translate. On the way back, looking down over the Alps - having drunk too much, he suddenly said 'I'm going to buy a horse, to keep at your farm - a black stallion'. We found a black horse, named Shihardi after some carpet, I think. It took an immediate dislike to its owner, and I was the only one who could ride it. Use that, if you can Mary. Will have a go at Les's poem over a coffee. Hope you ride again, Mary - I just felt my luck was running out.

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:19pm

Hi TG - I'm sure Mary will appreciate that.

Sandra Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 9:20am

I always enjoy your postings, Les, and take something from practically all of them. I wondered whether you and other moodscope users have come across an online course currently running on www.futurelearn.com called Literature and Mental Health. It's free and doesn't require a great deal of time and runs for 6 weeks. It can be started at any time really. It discusses the potential benefit of literature - especially poetry - as a means of additional support. I'm finding it very interesting.

Debs Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 9:26am

Ooo - that sounds interesting Sandra, I'm going to take a look. Thanks for sharing xx

Debs Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 9:28am

Ps - I think Rachel Kelly talks about that in her book 'Black Rainbow', if you're interested in words and mental health you'll love her book xx

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:20pm

Hi Sandra - Great to pass such things on - there are so many ways and I'm sure we can all find something to assist us. Thank you.

Norman Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 9:56am

Les hi!

I have an appointment with my consultant this afternoon, then a really promising date early evening. Looks like my "deep inside" is going to get a thorough going-over today...

60 dry days today: 116/120 in total since hospital. Still waiting for the benefits...

Debs Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 10:19am

Bearofliddlebrain Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 10:35am

Benefit number One: you must be sleeping better which bodes well for any advancement on the date this evening...so that could technically be benefit number two ticked!! Benefit number three: your liver thanks you :) Benefit number four: your liddle brain cells will remember things you used to forget when drink took over. Benefit number five: you are one amazing guy to have got this far...cheesy grin from a Bear with a big hug x

Norman Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 1:30pm

Sleeping better? Not really, bed at 8, lights out at 10, and can still be awake gone 12. Wake around 7 feeling tired and lie till 9 or later until I can summon the energy for the day. No noticeable improvement in brain cells.
My liver will thank me, that is a benefit, thanks for reminding me.
And there was no eclipse in Dublin yesterday...

Bearofliddlebrain Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 1:54pm

.....no eclipse? That'll be because I didn't get the gardening done! Sorry you're not getting enough quality sleep. Fingins crossed for your date.......x

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:23pm

Hi Norman - well done to date. I hope you are not waiting for too much? Take pleasure from each day you are dry. I hope this afternoon goes well - I'm sure your Doc will be pleased and I'm also sure things that you cannot see will be better - BP etc. Good luck tonight!

Bearofliddlebrain Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 10:42am

Lovely, Les, this poem evokes happy memories of working in a school where children were happy and smiling and rushing around so busy with just being - makes me feel warm, happy and cosy.
Excited to think of young love through a teenager's eyes - the first hand holding, the first kiss and the fuzzy wuzzy butterfly feelings you get in your stomach!!
The waggy dog's tail...a feeling of gratefulness that when I come home, my own doggit is so pleased to see me - his tail wags so much, he could almost take off!
Have to finish now, but thank you Les, great, thoughtful pom today.
Bear x x

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:24pm

Hi Bear - aye that school with kids still being themselves - made me smile. Go well Lx

The Gardener Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 12:21pm

I've just lugged a set of shelves and the bread bin from one house to the other - and checked on progress of the decorator. Very mundane, very material. BUT. Struck dumb - one word of Les's poem 'emotional'. This is not a house move for curtain choosing - though that must be part of it. But everything is done for the comfort and benefit of an elderly man in a sad state. He hates being away from me, and cold. Kitchen/dining room already a place of comfort and yes, love. Mr G is as calm there as anywhere, it is the first thing he has positively LIKED for months/years. People collect there, first one in puts the coffee on. Neighbours young children wave as they go to school. Favourite objects of his parents and Godmother clutter (said I would not, but nicely displayed clutter) the windowsills. I looked at the hall and stairs wallpaper and found it too dark. BUT, I intend to fill it with favourite pictures - Bali, family degree receiving photos, and what Mr G did for me every birthday, a composition/collage of my year (you can probably imagine the scope for those). And as he goes up and down on the newly-installed stair-lift our life will follow him. Our bedroom was designed AROUND our Japanese woodcuts - not very valuable, but admired and even coveted by many people. We bought them before we were married 61 years ago for 10 bob each. Amusing, frustrating, but emotionally gratifying at the same time, is trying to fulfil my programme on respite days. People who think I've gone off the radar meet me in the street (beautifully sunny today, so tendency to stop and chat) then the Post Office has gone to lunch and I'm desperate for a siesta - that means phone will ring - but I've lost it, so it will have to find me.

The Gardener Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 2:25pm

Need an explanation from Les. As I do something for the last time in the old house, and gradually de-personalise it - I am making a 'home' in the new one, different needs, different situation - we came into this, where I am writing, in early retirement - full of enthusiasm - new country, new language - and, with our Indian commitment, virtually a new life. The next one is for our old age, totally different challenge. I find I am totally confused now between 'emotion' and 'sentiment'. They're not synonymous, but I'd be hard put to give definitions.

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:28pm

Hi TG - Hmmmmmmmm I would say that emotion is what you 'feel' from a situation or relationship and sentiment could be a secondary feeling that you might attach to that initial feeling to convey in words? (feeling before thought)

Anon Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 2:43pm

Thank you again Les for your words this morning. Your poem stirs up feelings in me of comfort knowing I live my life mainly from the heart and always have. Of course I am rational too but only when it really matters. When I read your poems and words I know I am not alone.

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:29pm

Hi Anon - oh for the feeling of comfort....and one of the key things for me in life is how not to feel alone for us all.

Skyblue Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 3:56pm

"How do we start,
To go deep inside?
And find some compassion,
Not that external pride?"
Hi Les, your blog this morning reinforced the commitment i've finally started making to daily 'plugging in' to that which connects me to my deeper self where i do not exist in isolation. For me, it is a spiritual routine (as opposed to religious) which affords objectivity on all those 'nuts' and 'ants' and helps the heart to stay open. Your poem gave me a very strong feeling of surety that this daily stuff is essential. I've been lazy. Thank you. Hope you're feeling less 'flat'. xx

Les Thu, Feb 25th 2016 @ 4:48pm

Hi Skyblue - Many thanks for the above....don't be too hard on yourself.....as someone said when you are training a young puppy and it forgets and pees somewhere.....we gently and kindly take it back to its corner and remind it - until it does it by habit. Can we be as kind and smilingly take ourselves back to our 'practice'...... Keep that heart open. Lx

the room above the garage Fri, Feb 26th 2016 @ 6:20am

Thank you Les. The line I find most interesting is not in the poem but in your comments. "I'm a bit flat today". Have you noticed you rarely say it at the time you feel it? You blog and you support others from your comments but you rarely talk about you, at the time you are flat. In the quest for us all to find each little hurdle and pull it down, I'm just making an observation... Hope today will be less flat, love ratg X.

Les Fri, Feb 26th 2016 @ 1:57pm

Hi RATG - Aye - you got me! Really struggled yesterday to go on line....the day got better as it went on, but boy a troubling one. Today is less flat.....I still need some alternative focus for my ever challenging mind. Thanks Lx

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